78988 - Anthropology, Gender and Communication Processes

Learning outcomes

The student (a) knows the key elements of communication as a socio-cultural event, (b) can evaluate and apply ethically correct practices in the field, (c) can develop further higher-level socio-communication knowledge and skills and apply them also in the areas of mediation and translation.

Course contents

The course aims to investigate gender issues and identities from an intercultural perspective by discussing theories developed in the fields of cultural anthropology and communication studies. More specifically, the classes will cover three macro-areas:

- Feminist, trans and queer studies in Western cultures from the second half of the 20th century to the present.

- Colonialism and gender identity in Native American, Aboriginal and Pacific Islander cultures.

- Interlinguistic exploration of strategies against linguistic sexism and for inclusive language.

Gender representations in new media will also be analyzed during the course through the tools provided by Critical Discourse Studies. The course will include practical exercises and discussions among the students.

Readings/Bibliography

The full list of texts required for the exam will be given at the beginning of the course (see Virtuale). The course bibliography consists of a selection of essays from different publications, including:

Adamo, Sergia, Giulia Zanfabro and Elisabetta Tigani Sava (eds) (2019) Non esiste solo il maschile. Teorie e pratiche per un linguaggio non discriminatorio da un punto di vista di genere. Trieste: Edizioni Università di Trieste. [selection of essays]

bell hooks (1989) “Choosing the Margin as a Space of Radical Openness” Framework 36: 15-23.

Bernini, Lorenzo (2017) Le teorie queer: un’introduzione, Milan: Mimesis. pp. 55-145.

Besnier, Niko and Kalissa Alexeyeff (2014) (eds) Gender on the Edge. Transgender, Gay, and Other Pacific Islanders. Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press. [selezione di saggi]

De Leo, Maya (2021) Queer: storia culturale della comunità LGBT+, Turin: Einaudi.

Fausto-Sterling, Anne (1993) “The Five Sexes: Why Male and Female are not Enough” The Sciences March/April: 20-25.

Fausto-Sterling, Anne (2000) “The Five Sexes, Revisited” The Sciences July/August: 18-23.

Gheno, Vera (2021) “L’avventura dello schwa” in Vera Gheno Femminili singolari. Il femminismo è nelle parole. Ediz. ampliata. Florence: Effequ. pp. 175-195.

Robinson, Margaret (2020) “Two-Spirit Identity in a Time of Gender Fluidity” Journal of Homosexuality 67(12): 1675-1690.

Sabatini, Alma (1987) “Raccomandazioni per un uso non sessista della lingua italiana” in Alma Sabatini (ed) Il sessismo nella lingua italiana. Rome: Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri.

Stryker, Susan (2017) “Context, Concepts, and Terms” in Susa Stryker Transgender History. New York: Seal Press.

Vincent, Ben and Ana Manzano (2017) “History and Cultural Diversity” in Christina Richards et al. (eds) Genderqueer and Non-Binary Genders. Critical and Applied Approaches in Sexuality, Gender and Identity. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 11-30.

Wodak, Ruth (2021) “Gender and the Body Politic: The Politics of Patriarchy” in Ruth Wodak The Politics of Fear. London: Sage. 195-224.

Teaching methods

Lectures and workshops. The course requires the active participation of students.

Assessment methods

Attending students: written exam with open-ended questions on topics covered in the course and in the bibliography texts.

NON-attending students: written exam with open-ended questions on topics covered in the course and in the bibliography texts + written paper (essay) to be handed in on the day of exam. For more information on the written paper, please e-mail the professor and see Virtual.

NB: Non-attending students are kindly asked to e-mail the professor before the beginning of the course.

 

Learning assessment scale:

30-30L (excellent): Excellent, in-depth knowledge of the course content, excellent ability to apply theoretical concepts, excellent exposition, as well as excellent capacity for critical analysis in an intersectional perspective.

27-29 (above average): Accurate and extensive knowledge of content, good ability to apply theoretical concepts, ability for critical analysis, accurate and correct exposition.

24-26 (generally sound): Appropriate content knowledge, fair ability to apply theoretical concepts and to present content.

21-23 (sufficient): Appropriate but not extensive knowledge of content, partial ability to apply theoretical concepts, presentation of content acceptable.

18-20 (minimum): Sufficient but superficial knowledge of content, simple exposition, uncertainties in the application of theoretical concepts.

Insuf. / Failed: Fragmented and superficial knowledge of content, errors in applying concepts, poor exposition. The exam must be repeated.

Teaching tools

Slides, videos, bibliography and other material, all made available on the platform Virtuale in the dedicated section.

Office hours

See the website of Beatrice Spallaccia